Russian daredevils Vanya Beerkus and Angela Nikolau are seen as ambassadors for ‘rooftopping’, an unregulated climbing sport.
Printed On 1 Jul 2026
A protest stunt and obvious marriage proposal on prime of the Empire State Constructing has led to the arrest of two folks in New York Metropolis.
Video shot by a United States information helicopter on Wednesday confirmed two folks, wearing black, showing to kiss on prime of the enduring skyscraper’s primary antenna.
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They unfurled a banner inscribed with the phrases, “When the facility of affection beats the love of energy the world is aware of peace,” from their perch, roughly 443 metres (1,454 toes) above the bottom.
It was not clear how the pair gained entry to the antenna, which is positioned properly above the publicly accessible areas within the 102-storey constructing.
Police physique digital camera footage, launched later within the day, confirmed an officer despatched to retrieve the daredevils.
“How are you doing?” he requested the couple as he ascended a ladder, respiratory closely. Whereas the couple’s response can’t be heard over the wind, the officer proceeded to inform them, “Properly, you’ll be able to’t be up right here.”
The arrested couple have since been recognized as Russian nationals Vanya Beerkus and Angela Nikolau. The couple appeared in a 2024 Netflix documentary known as Skywalkers: A Love Story, which chronicled their shared curiosity in “rooftopping”, an city sport that entails scaling metropolis buildings.
“Why ought to I be apprehensive? I climb up roofs myself,” Dmitriy Nikolau, Angela’s father, advised the information company Reuters when requested in regards to the stunt.
Dmitriy, whom Reuters recognized as a Russian circus artist, reportedly had prior information of his daughter’s climb.
He advised the information outlet, “I feel it’s regular to climb up a roof in any nation, together with america, based on any structure.”
In an announcement, an Empire State Constructing spokesperson described Wednesday’s climb as an “unauthorized incident”, suggesting the couple ought to have as a substitute purchased the constructing’s $1,000 “Fortunately Ever Empire Proposal Bundle” to mark their engagement.
